What's Happening

Politics

Brat Summer Is Over: The 2024 Election's Dark Turn

What's going on: With just days until the election, the Republican Party is in damage control mode, trying to distance itself from racist and sexist comments made at former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Sunday. Before Trump took the stage, his allies made disparaging comments about Puerto Ricans, VP Kamala Harris, and other people of color, prompting immediate backlash. Prominent Puerto Ricans, including Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Luis Fonsi, who have all endorsed Harris, publicly condemned the comments. GOP lawmakers and the Trump campaign quickly responded, stressing that these views don’t represent the party (though Sen. JD Vance’s reaction was a bit different). Democrats, meanwhile, seized the moment, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) calling the event a “hate rally.” 

What it means: The comments at MSG are the latest in an election that many say has taken a dark turn. Harris recently called Trump a “fascist,” while the former president said she was “mentally impaired” and one of his surrogates referred to her as the “antichrist.” While comments like Sunday’s aren’t new for the Trump campaign, the moment felt significant coming just days before the election. An advisor for Harris predicts the MSG event could damage Trump politically, and the former president’s campaign even seems concerned that this could sway undecided voters in Democrats’ favor. As previous elections have shown, it’s hard to predict what, if anything, will affect the electorate at this stage (could this be the October surprise?).

Related: How Some Latinos Responded to the MSG Rally Comments (NYT)

Elections

Are Influencers Courting Your Vote?

What's going on: Celebrities like Beyoncé and Hulk Hogan have made headlines for endorsing presidential candidates. And just beyond the limelight, social media creators (who prefer ring lights) have also weighed in and cashed in. They’ve posted red, white, and blue-clad convention selfies and shared messages paid for by political groups, but unlike their ads for bronzer and athleisure, they don’t always disclose who’s paying them to talk policy. And they are getting paid...sometimes up to $5,000 or $15,000 for a single TikTok, according to The Washington Post. That’s if they’re not getting paid for every person they get to register to vote. As political campaigns and PACs pour millions into the influencer economy, regulatory oversight is almost nonexistent. 

What it means: When political candidates or groups put an ad on TV, they’re required to say “I approve this message.” That’s not the case when an influencer gets paid to share political content, even though they’d have to disclose a paid promotion for, say, a fancy advent calendar. And let’s face it: many trust their favorite influencers to tell them what to buy more than random billboard ads — even if they’re just buying into a message. Despite talk of the “era of de-influencing,” many politicos view influencers as the “next frontier in political campaigning.” Still, some states, like Texas, have started to crack down on influencer political ads, amid concerns that creators could spread misinformation and even propaganda.

Related: These Charts Show the Influencers Who Are Influencing Us Politically (Wired)

Work

Meet AI's "Super Users"

What's going on: Is your co-worker flying through assignments? They might be using artificial intelligence to hack the system. Although the technology is still developing (and unregulated), more white-collar workers are turning to AI to knock out mundane tasks like writing press releases, analyzing large data sets, and checking grammar. However, not everyone is riding the AI train. A Gallup poll found that 67% of workers said they had never used AI at work, and only 4% said they used it daily. The small group of “super users” said AI has helped them become more efficient, productive, creative, and innovative. What manager wouldn’t love that?

What it means: Artificial intelligence may seem intimidating, but it can also help fulfill our personal assistant fantasies. One company executive told The Washington Post that AI assists them with strategic planning and even helps them prepare for tough conversations. Others said using AI has saved them so much time that they’re able to learn new technical skills on the side. While some industry leaders are ready for autonomous AI to take over (and save them money), others are wary, citing concerns about privacy and skill loss due to over-reliance. Oh, and let’s not forget: AI can also be factually incorrect and show bias.

Related: Could AI Lead to More Employee Burnout? (BBC)